Final slideshows

visitors

Tom Davis has asked that 500 people blog about the movie Orphan and I was happy to participate for several reasons. For one, I find the movie irresponsible and damaging to the millions of fatherless waiting for their own family and secondly, adoption has changed my life for the better.

"Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life..."

It always bugs me when people say, oh, you have four of your own and you adopted Abe....or something like that. NO, I have 5 (almost 6) of my own, 2 just came via adoption and 4 biologically. I realize the majority say these things simply due to lack of education and not to hurt, but the quote from the movie just strikes a chord as Abe couldn't be more "my own"!! From that first moment he was placed in my arms-- MINE!

I say all the time that adoption is the best thing that we have ever done! I mean it. It changed all of us. The kids now get that joy isn't contingent upon "things" as they became friends with the happiest children who literally have nothing. They saw extreme poverty, mothers relinquishing their children and in the midst of all of that-- they saw Jesus.

All of us have been given the gift of SEEING Him work in Abe's life on a daily basis. We watch him progress beyond any medical expectation, we watch his absolute love for life and you can't NOT be changed. Abe makes all of us better.

We now know far more than we ever thought we would about neurologists, EEG's, therapy, brain development, adaptive equipment, etc but we wouldn't change any of that for the blessing of getting SO much more of HIM than we ever would have if Abe were typically developing. We experience a real, tangible, Presence of the Lord as He comes along side of us in our journey. Suffering with equal amounts of beauty. Hard to explain, but real non the less.

Abe gives us that- and I trust that the precious little boy behind this smile will bless us as well. I simply can't wait to SEE how the Lord continues to work in our family through the miracle of adoption.

This is the opportunity to defend the cause of the orphan. But instead of cursing the darkness, lets put the truth on display.

Tom is challenging his readers and friends to write 500 positive blog posts about how an orphan has impacted and changed your life. Post this on your own blog so that when people search for the movie, they are flooded with positive messages about adoption and orphan care.

Just finish this sentence: "Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life..."

This is the heart of defending orphans. Help push back the darkness and deceit here by holding up as an example the powerful love that adoption and orphan care can unleash.

Heres how you can defend the orphan:

1. Write a "positive protest post" on you blog that references the movie, Orphan.

2. Focus on your orphan care or adoption story that is positive, redeeming, and full of love.

Here is a precious video from my friend Kristi. The Lord brought us together very early in her adoption process and she has become a sweet friend. The Lord brought it all full circle when Moody was on her flight home from Ethiopia.

She is passionate about adoption, Ethiopia and orphan care! Watch and be blessed.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

The following was a post that I wrote last July- almost exactly a year ago. I was getting anxious about Abe's court date. Here I am again and yet the Lord is having to gently remind me the same things again. I guess I'm not a very good student!

My sister used to say, "you should try to get it the first time, because the Lord will bring it back time and time again until you do!" Isn't that the truth? Here I was earlier today- being anxious about the courts closing.

I love Francis Chan's definition of stress and worry from Crazy Love. (life altering book if you haven't already read it)

Stress- says that things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Worry- implies that we don't trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

OUCH! Why do I doubt? Why do I not trust that our precious little boy will come home at the perfectly appointed and ordained time? I learned these lessons with Abe. I continue to learn them as I see this gift of a child that He gracious gave to us work hard each and every day to accomplish new skills. He is the God of the Universe- He will bring about our court date in His time.

I am thankful for a patient and loving Father that continues to teach me the same lessons over and over again.

Will you please join me in praying for a court date before the closure? There is the cutest little boy in Ethiopia waiting for a mom, dad and 5 siblings to come and bring him home. My heart simply longs to have him here, amidst the chaos of Team Alexander. :)

(post written last July)

do not worry about tomorrow!Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

"Do not worry about tomorrow! This is not a suggestion, but a command. I divided time into days and nights, so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle. My grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time. When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame. You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry.

Throw off this oppressive burden with one quick thrust of trust. Anxious thoughts meander about and crisscross in your brain, but trusting Me brings you directly into My Presence. As you thus affirm your faith, shakles of worry fall off instantly. Enjoy My Presence continually by trusting Me at all times." (from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

I was convicted today of trying to figure out all the details- when we will travel, who will travel with us, where we will stay, what route we will take to get there, and this entry put my perspective back in line. I know that at the perfectly appointed time, we will pass court, travel and finally be united as a family. We are prayerful that we will pass court the first time on the 24th!!

We are still in Missouri and will head home tomorrow. Family camp was amazing- a relaxing and restful week with the team. We are staying with the Neal's for a night and will drive home tomorrow.

I was so surprised to receive the call at camp. We were enjoying our first full day of camp, and it never occured to me to check my phone. The boys were out playing paint ball, the girls were running around,and I was in the room giving Abe a bottle. I looked at my phone and saw that I had a voicemail. I still wasn't thinking referral at all..............."Hi Emily, this is Sara" and my mind went blank. I started fumbling around, looking for a pen, freaking out that Moody was out playing paint ball! I called her back and got her voicemail.

What seemed like forever (actually only about 10 min)-- she called me back. I told her that Moody was out with the boys and I would call back as soon as I could. I was pacing back and forth, found the girls and we waited for the boys to come in through the front gate. They finally returned and we called Sara back. We then proceeded to spend the next 20 minutes trying to find internet while Sara waited patiently on the phone! I bet she (and all the other guests) thought we were so nutty. :)Finally we saw our boy and read all about him. He is so beautiful! We are in love. :)My sweet mom put a package together to send with our buddies, the Fournets. They leave today. More when we get home.